Protective role of N-acetylcysteine against alcohol and paracetamol induced toxicity

Abstract

The effect of administration of N-acetylcysteine on ethanol and paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity was studied both biochemically and histopathologically in experimental rats. The liver samples taken after twentyfour hours from the paracetamol administered normal and alcoholic animals showed high degree of necrosis and related pathological changes. In the N-acetylcysteine treated alcoholic rats and in the N-acetylcysteine pretreated paracetamol administered rats, the liver cells showed very little change and appeared almost normal as evidenced by the histopathological studies. The activities of serum transaminases and phosphatases were also high both in the alcohol treated and in the paracetamol administered animals. N-acetylcysteine treated animals partly restored the serum transaminase and phosphatase activities, and the activities of the antiperoxidative enzymes. There was also significant change in the serum and tissue lipid levels, and in the concentration of the tissue lipid peroxidation product-malondialdehyde in both the alcohol treated and in the paracetamol administered groups. N-acetylcysteine treatment brought the serum and tissue lipid levels, and the tissue malondialdehyde content towards normal.